The Bay Ridge Digest

The Bay Ridge Digest Podcast - EP016: Beach Season

Out now on all podcasting platforms, The Bay Ridge Digest Podcast episode 16! We talk about Coney Island, community theater, growing up in Bensonhurst, and meet several ladies running small businesses in the neighborhood.  Featured in this episode are these segments:  • A life in fashion with Sew ‘N Fashion’s (@sew.n.fashion_bk) Alyson Melhus • What exactly is a Coney? Coney Island’s early history • Growing Up In Bensonhurst with Victoria Salerno of Mighty Functional Fitness Studio (@mightyfunctionalfitness) • The First Happy Father’s Day in 15 Years • Anna from Anna Bella Pizza Cafe (@annabellapizzacafe) with how family tragedy led her to a life as a foodie, opening up Anna Bella Pizza Cafe, and how her and her husband Hisham are running this new sourdough pizza cafe • Dreamland Burns Down • Music the World Makes with John P. Loonam (@jploonam) • At the grand opening the new Law Offices of Khalifeh and Strupinsky (@khalifehstrupinsky)  • Community Theater with Jeff Samaha (@jeff_samaha) • Wedding and Summer Jokes with Freddie Friday (@freddiefridaystoryfuntime) with a PSA for the Itty Bitty Kitty Bay Ridge Cat Rescue (@ittybittykittynybayridge) • Running Sew ‘N Fashion and courses offered (@sew.n.fashion_bk) with Alyson Melhus Coming June 29th: The Bay Ridge Digest Monday morning roundup email. It’ll feature local events, classifieds, restaurant recs, human interest, and other important Bay Ridge happenings.  Want to receive this? Want to submit a story or important event you already know that will be happening this Summer? Do all that at BayRidgeDigest.com [http://bayridgedigest.com]. Want to have your businesses logo featured in the weekly email for one small monthly fee? Go to Patreon.com/TheBayRidgeDigest [http://patreon.com/TheBayRidgeDigest] to do so, and the Media Kit at BayRidgeDigest.com [http://bayridgedigest.com] to find out more.  To individually support all these Bay Ridge Digest pieces of media for as little as $5 per month, please go to Patreon.com/TheBayRidgeDigest [http://patreon.com/TheBayRidgeDigest].  For more info on how to submit a story lead, please go to BayRidgeDigest.com [http://bayridgedigest.com]. You can also get in touch by emailing BayRidgeDigest@gmail.com [BayRidgeDigest@gmail.com]. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayridgedigest/ [https://www.instagram.com/bayridgedigest/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bayridgedigest [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bayridgedigest]

Coming June 29th: The Bay Ridge Digest Monday Morning Roundup Email

Coming June 29th: The Bay Ridge Digest Monday morning roundup email. It’ll feature local events, classifieds, restaurant recs, human interest, and other important Bay Ridge happenings.  Want to receive this? Want to submit a story or important event you already know that will be happening this Summer? Do all that at BayRidgeDigest.com. Want to have your businesses logo featured in the weekly email for one small monthly fee? Go to Patreon.com/TheBayRidgeDigest to do so, and the Media Kit at BayRidgeDigest.com to find out more.  To individually support all these Bay Ridge Digest pieces of media for as little as $5 per month, please go to Patreon.com/TheBayRidgeDigest and click on the “Red Tier.” Your support means the world as this whole shebang grows.

Haunted Bay Ridge Walking Tour — Saturday 6/6/2026 at 6:30PM

How do we define a ghost? What makes us gravitate towards spooky stories, and not just in October? What causes these supposed paranormal things to happen? Are they trapped spirits who are unable to move on? Inter-dimensional visitors? Energetic imprints from the past history of a house? Or is it something ancient? Something tied to the land itself.  I grew up in a house on Bay Parkway in Bensonhurst that had lots of strange activity. Don’t believe me? Just ask my mom. Want to take a ghost tour and see me in person? I’m leading Haunted Bay Ridge on Saturday June 6th at 6:30PM. Tickets can be found here — https://www.eventbrite.com/e/haunted-bay-ridge-revised-tickets-1987612124369, at the tours and events tab at BayRidgeDigest.com [http://bayridgedigest.com], or through the linktr.ee [http://linktr.ee] at @BayRidgeDigest or @TheWallBreakers on Instagram.

The Bay Ridge Digest Podcast - EP015: Wistful Thinking

In The Bay Ridge Digest Podcast episode 15, we speak with the owner of the Fort Hamilton Distillery, salute the importance of Memorial Day, and meet several small business owners.  Featured in this episode are these segments:  • The inspiration for Fort Hamilton Distillery (@fort.hamilton.distillery) in Industry City (@industrycity) with co-founder Alex Clark • Anna from Anna Bella Pizza Cafe (@annabellapizzacafe) with a big hello and their late Spring menu and hours • The history behind “In Flanders Fields” and how to donate to local Poppy funds through @forthamiltonfmwr and local VFWs • Jeff Samaha (@jeff_samaha) on working the Today Show, David Letterman, Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, how Ridge Chorale expanded in the 1970s and 1980s, and meeting his wife Mary Ann • Three Light-Hearted Jokes from Freddie Friday (@freddiefridaystoryfuntime) with a PSA for the Itty Bitty Kitty Bay Ridge Cat Rescue (@ittybittykittynybayridge) • Establishing the first Doula program at the New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and launching The Brooklyn Birth Shop (@brooklynbirthshop) with Kerri Evers • The history of the Memorial Day Weekend International Lifeboat Race in the Narrows • Mighty Functional Fitness (@mightyfunctionalfitness) offerings with Victoria Salerno • Selections from The Price of Their Toys with John P. Loonam (@jploonam) • Sew ‘N Fashion’s (@sew.n.fashion_bk) upcoming anniversary party and summer camp with Alyson Melhus • Launching and running the Fort Hamilton Distillery (@fort.hamilton.distillery) with Alex Clark  • The story behind the Flagg Court Pool Closure with Christine Walters (@finnmom) of Three Day Champion (@threedaychampion) Coming in Monday, June 29th, The Bay Ridge Digest weekly Monday morning roundup email. It’ll feature upcoming Bay Ridge events, local classifieds, restaurant recs, human interest, and other Bay Ridge happenings.  Want to sign up for this and find out more? Please do so at the completely revamped  BayRidgeDigest.com [http://bayridgedigest.com] For more info on how to submit a story lead, please go to BayRidgeDigest.com [http://bayridgedigest.com]. You can also get in touch by emailing BayRidgeDigest@gmail.com [BayRidgeDigest@gmail.com]. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayridgedigest/ [https://www.instagram.com/bayridgedigest/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bayridgedigest [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bayridgedigest]

The Bay Ridge Digest Podcast - EP014: We Remember Bay Ridge

In The Bay Ridge Digest Podcast episode 14, we remember through the eyes of three Bay Ridge residents: A doula, a writer, and a musical director. In doing so, we’ll span several decades and maybe find out more about ourselves through the process.  Featured in this episode are these segments:  • With Jeff Samaha (@jeff_samaha) at St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church (@stmarysbrooklynya) and Hinch’s in the 1950s • Jess from The Bookmark Shoppe (@thebookmarkshoppe) with some Bay Ridge-centric reads  • Three Light-Hearted Jokes from Freddie Friday (@freddiefridaystoryfuntime) with a PSA for the Itty Bitty Kitty Bay Ridge Cat Rescue (@ittybittykittynybayridge) • Jeff Samaha on Forming Ridge Chorale and Becoming a stage manager at NBC in the 1960s • Growing Up on Long Island with John P. Loonam (@jploonam) • Tony Christiano of Nonno’s Pizza (@nonnospizza) on their most popular offerings and funny requests • Why I’m launching the upcoming Bay Ridge Digest weekly Monday morning email newsletter in June • Moving to Manhattan and then Bay Ridge, with John P. Loonam • Growing up in Bay Ridge and Becoming a Doula, with Kerri Evers of The Brooklyn Birth Shop (@brooklynbirthshop) • What defines a haunting with Christopher Wiecha and Aimee Pagano (@aimeenicolecollin) Coming in June, The Bay Ridge Digest weekly Monday morning roundup email. It’ll feature upcoming Bay Ridge events, local classifieds, restaurant recs, human interest, and other Bay Ridge happenings. Want to sign up for this and find out more? Please do so at the completely revamped BayRidgeDigest.com For more info on how to submit a story lead, please go to BayRidgeDigest.com [http://bayridgedigest.com]. You can also get in touch by emailing BayRidgeDigest@gmail.com [BayRidgeDigest@gmail.com]. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bayridgedigest/ [https://www.instagram.com/bayridgedigest/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bayridgedigest [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bayridgedigest]